Cocaine dealers caught after police spot suspicious car in St Albans

Two young London Colney drug dealers have been jailed after police noticed a car parked suspiciously in St Albans.

Aaron Runnacles, 22, was sentenced to two years and four months on Friday and Luka Sensi, 20, received two years after they were found with £5,000 worth of cocaine.

Prosecutor Simon Wilshire told St Albans crown court that at 7pm on April 12 this year officers on patrol in Robert Avenue, St Albans, noticed a red Peugeot and activated their blue lights, indicating that it should stop.

Runnacles, who was driving, pulled off at speed before breaking hard in Warren Road. Sensi got out of the front passenger seat and ran off. He threw away a bag, but was stopped nearby in a garden after Parva incapacitant spray was used on him.

Officers recovered a total of 76.6 grams of cocaine from the bags and the footwell of the car. Runnacles had drugs on him and Sensi was found to have a dealer's list.

Runnacles, of Alexander Road, London Colney and Sensi, of Cotlandswick, London Colney, appeared at court via a video link from Bedford prison. They had pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply. Runnacles had been sentenced in 2009 for supplying drugs. He had a total of four convictions for eight offences. Sensi had 12 convictions for 15 previous offences.

For Sensi, Alex Britton said he had been using cocaine since he was 18 and had got into drug debts. He said he had been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and Tourettes syndrome. He said he was supported by his family.

Gabrielle Moore, for Runnacles, said he was funding his drug habit and trying to pay off his drugs debts, by dealing. Since being held in custody she said he had made efforts to come off drugs in prison and was being housed on the recovery wing. She said he was sorry for disappointing his "supportive" family and apologised for what he had done.

Both barristers asked for credit for their clients early guilty pleas.

Judge Andew Bright QC told them: "Those who deal in Class A drugs can expect to go to prison. I hope you will learn you lessons and will come out of custody and be drug free."